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Background:There is confusion in the current literature regarding the value of obtaining predebridement wound cultures in the management of open fractures with several studies reporting contrasting results. We undertook a pilot study to determine the initial bacterial flora of open fractures in our environment and determine the correlation between subsequent wound infection if any, and the initial bacterial flora.Materials and Methods:Initial/predebridement wound swabs were obtained for 32 patients with open fractures. Patients underwent a debridement of the open wound and preliminary stabilization of fracture in the operating room within 24 h. Postdebridement wound cultures were obtained at 48 h and repeated subsequently, if indicated, during the follow-up period. The antibiotic therapy was modified based on the culture reports.Results:Initial wound swab culture showed bacterial contamination in 18 patients (56%); 14 patients (44%) developed an infection in the immediate postoperative period or during follow-up. Age, gender, co-morbid medical condition, delay in presentation, and grade of open fracture were not found to be predictors of postoperative infection. No patient had an infection with the same organism, which was present in the initial culture.Conclusion:The findings of this study suggest that the initial flora are not the infecting organisms in the open fracture wounds, and predebridement wound cultures have no value in predicting postdebridement wound infection.

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is the most common ligament to be torn in the knee joint and ACL reconstruction (ACLR) is one of the most commonly performed surgery in orthopaedics nowadays. This study evaluated short term results of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with quadruple hamstring tendon (QHT) graft using EndoButton for femoral fixation and Bio absorbable interference screw for tibial fixation.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> Out of the<strong> </strong>68 patients who underwent single-bundle ACLR with QHT graft  using EndoButton for femoral fixation and Bio absorbable interference screw for tibial fixation, 60 patients were followed up for a minimum period of 2 years. Patients were followed up at regular intervals and evaluation was done using the anterior drawer test, Lachman test, pivot-shift test, modified Cincinnati rating system and Tegner-Lysholm knee scoring scale.<strong></strong></p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> There was improvement in the Lachman test and pivot-shift test at 2 year follow-up, from grade 2 (n=47) or grade 3 (n=6) to grade 1 (n=17) or grade 0 (n=42) and from grade 1 (n=38) or grade 2 (n=12) to grade 1 (n=14) or 0 (n=45), respectively. The mean Modified Cincinnati score and Tegner-Lysholm knee score improved from 59.57 to 99.03 and 64.45 to 98.87 respectively at 2 year follow-up. Complications occurred in 3 patients, a re-rupture due to trauma at 1 year after surgery, development of a cyclops lesion with restricted range of motion and a superficial infection at the graft harvest site.</p><p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> The two year follow-up results of ACLR with QHT graft using EndoButton for femoral fixation and bioabsorbable interference screw for tibial fixation are satisfactory and comparable with other modalities of graft fixation.</p>

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